By Mina Kim, KQED
Kaiser Permanente is failing to provide timely access to mental health treatment for some of its members according to a recent report by the Department of Managed Health Care.
The report says Kaiser's mental health services are deficient in key areas.
State regulators found insufficient staffing at some clinics across the state -- with patients waiting longer than the legal limit of 10 days for appointments. The report also says some patients were being misled due to inaccurate information about Kaiser's mental health services. Regulators also found that at Northern California facilities staff members were not accurately tracking and reporting how long patients had to wait to get initial appointments or follow ups.
Shelly Rouillard, chief deputy director at the department, says the agency will be taking the unusual step of conducting a follow-up survey in six months rather than the normal 18 months.